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Each year, the IBM Beacon Awards recognize the most innovative solutions from IBM Business Partners. Spanning a wide range of solutions and markets in support of Smarter Planet, winning solutions consistently demonstrate exemplary value by solving real business issues for clients.

In addition to providing IBM Business Partners with recognition for their achievements over the past year, the Beacon Awards also give winners an opportunity to gain greater visibility across the industry and within IBM through press and analyst support, PartnerWorld web recognition, as well as video testimonials. Winning Business Partners will also receive a crystal trophy, use of the IBM Beacon Award mark for one year, and complimentary registration to the event at which award winners will be announced.

This year, Business Partners will be recognized in the following categories:

For an overview of the IBM Beacon Awards, as well as a look at last year's winners, check out this video from the 2011PartnerWorld Leadership Conference, courtesy of the IBM PartnerWorld Livestream Channel:

Nominations for the 2012 IBM Beacon Awards are due on November 1, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EDT. IBM Business Partners can visit PartnerWorld to get a better understanding of eligibility criteria for the IBM Beacon Awards, as well as answers to some of the most frequently asked questions related to the awards.